Reaching the City

The Prague airport is located about 15 km/9 miles from the city center. It takes approximately 25 - 30 minutes (40 minutes in heavy traffic) to reach the center by car and about 30 minutes on public transport (bus + subway).

After you get off your flight in Prague, you will have several options of arriving at your destination: public transportation, taxi, a shuttle company, or a pickup previously arranged with your hotel.

By Public Transportation:

The connection between Václav Havel Airport Prague and Prague city centre is provided by public transport bus lines which operate at regular few-minute intervals. Bus stops are located directly in front of terminals.

To get to Prague city centre the fastest way is by public transport, we recommend taking the 119 bus (Prague Airport – Veleslavín train station) and changing to metro Line A.

Public transport bus rides are subject to regular Prague Public Transport Fares; pre-paid passes and time cards apply. Bus rides do not need to be booked in advance. Passengers without pre-paid passes or time cards must purchase a ticket before boarding the bus from a ticket machine or the Prague Public Transit company (DPP) counter. Ticket machines are located directly at bus stops and around arrival halls. Prague Airport is not the provider of the service.

Keep in mind that public transport may not have much space for luggage, can be crowded in peak times and most likely won't drop you off right at your hotel. If you have a lot of luggage, you may want to consider using a transfer service or a taxi.
For each piece of luggage larger than 25 cm x 45 cm x 70 cm (10 in x 18 in x 28 in), it is necessary to purchase a transfer ticket.

The only means of public transport that leaves or arrives at the airport is the bus. The Prague airport is served by the following buses:

• Bus 119: Airport - Metro Line A Nádraží Veleslavín

Prague Airport BusBus 119 runs between the Prague Airport and Nádraží Veleslavín metro station (metro line A). This bus is the best choice if your destination is in the historical center of Prague (the Old Town, Lesser Town, New Town, Prague Castle area) or anywhere along line A of the metro including in the Vinohrady or Žižkov districts. The bus connections run every 7 to 20 minutes and the ride takes 13 to 17 minutes.

Taking Bus 119 from the airport:

Bus 119 leaves from outside the Arrivals terminal and runs from around 4:00 a.m. until 01:00 a.m. (until the end of metro service). It will take you to the Nádraží Veleslavín metro station on line A. From there, you can take the metro using the same ticket to continue to your destination. The metro will get you to the center in no time (6 - 8 stops, depending on where you're going). The most popular metro stations on the route are: Malostranská - Lesser Town (Malá Strana), Staroměstská - Old Town (Staré Město), Můstek - bottom and middle of Wenceslas Square, Muzeum - top of Wenceslas Square.

Taking Bus 119 to the airport:

Take line A of the metro to Nádraží Veleslavín. Bus 119 leaves from near the station exit. The airport is at the end of the line and the bus stops at all the terminals - 3 (private flights), 1 (flights to non-Schengen countries), and 2 (flights to Schengen countries). Announcements are made in English at the terminals.

• Bus 100: Airport - Metro Line B (Zličín):

Bus 100 Airport - ZličínBus 100 runs between the Prague airport and the Zličín metro station (metro line B). Take this bus if your destination is near any of the metro stations on line B, such as in the New Town (Nové Město) or Smíchov districts. The bus runs every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes after 7 p.m. The ride takes 15 to 20 minutes.

Taking Bus 100 from the airport:

Bus 100 leaves from outside the Arrivals terminal and runs from 5:45 a.m. until 23:39 p.m. It will take you to the Zličín metro station, which is the last stop. From there, you can take the metro using the same ticket to continue to your destination. Once you get on the metro, expect the ride to take about 20 minutes (11 - 13 stops) to get you into the center. Some important metro stations on the route are: Anděl - Smíchov District, Karlovo náměstí - Charles Square, Národní třída - Národní Avenue, Můstek - bottom of Wenceslas Square, Náměstí Republiky - Republic Square, Florenc - main bus station.

Taking Bus 100 to the airport:

Take line B of the metro to Zličín and get on bus 100, which runs from 5:30 a.m. until around midnight. The airport is at the end of the line and the bus stops at all the terminals - 1, 2 and 3.

• Airport Express: Airport - Main Train Station (Hlavní nádraží):

The Airport Express is a special bus that connects the Prague Airport with the Main Train Station (Hlavní nádraží), which is on line C of the metro. The Airport Express bus is scheduled to coincide with the arrivals and departures of SuperCity (Pendolino), EuroCity and InterCity trains. A ticket costs 60 Kč and covers the Airport - Main Train Station route.

• Traveling at Night: Bus 510 --> Divoká Šárka --> Tram 51:

In case you need to travel from the Prague Airport into town at night when none of the above buses run, you can take the night bus 510. Stay on it for about 11 minutes, get off at Divoká Šárka and change to the night tram 51 (you'll wait about 10 minutes for the tram to pull up). The tram will take you into the city center where, if necessary, you will be able to change to other night trams or buses to get to your destination. Keep in mind that the metro does not run at this time of night.

Getting around Prague by public transportation is easy and convenient and you may never need to use a taxi. Taking a taxi is a good idea when you are traveling with a lot of luggage, it is freezing cold, you need to get to a distant part of Prague, or you need to travel at night when the subway isn't running and the trams and buses run less frequently.

Unfortunately for Prague, its taxi drivers have become a scar on its reputation for overcharging and dishonesty. Based on a July 2012 undercover test, only one out of five Prague taxi drivers took the correct route from point A to point B, charged the correct amount, and printed a receipt. These were all taxis taken on the street, not booked over the phone. There are fortunately a number of reputable Prague taxi companies that you can rely on for good service and fair rates.

Here are some tips that might save you headaches and a few hundred crowns:

• Don't get into a taxi that is parked in front of the train station or at a tourist site. These are often waiting for unsuspecting tourists and are known to charge rates several times higher.

• If you need to catch a taxi on the street, make sure it is a real, registered taxi. The yellow roof lamp must be permanently installed and must say TAXI in black letters on both sides. The driver's name, license number and rates should be printed on both front doors.

• Try to find out beforehand how much your ride should cost. If you're stopping a taxi on the street, you can ask the driver before getting in and even pay in advance if the amount sounds reasonable. If you're ordering a taxi by phone, which is always a good idea, you can get a price estimate or even the exact fare from the dispatcher.

• Once in the car, make sure that the rate on the taximeter corresponds to the price list posted in the car. If it doesn't, bring it to the driver's attention or have him stop the car, so you can get off.

• The driver should offer a printed receipt. If he doesn't, you have the right to request one or refuse to pay the fare.

• Be smart and order a taxi by phone from one of these reliable and courteous taxi companies: